According to the Associated Press, Kariya’s agent, Don Baizley, said in a statement released through the players’ union that that the decision was made by the former All-Star left wing after he was examined by concussion specialist Dr. Mark Lovell.

Kariya, 35, did incur a concussion last season while playing with St. Louis and he missed six games. He did have 18 goals and 25 assists in his third season with the Blues after recovering from hip issues that limited him to just 11 games in 2008-09.

Kariya became an unrestricted free agent in July and there has been plenty of speculation about a possible return to the Ducks, where he spent his first nine seasons and became the franchise’s first superstar. But the former captain also hadn’t revealed whether he intended to play this season and this bit of news could push him closer to retirement.

The Ducks acknowledged that they had some interest in bringing back Kariya and Selanne openly campaigned for his signing. In 15 years with Anaheim, Colorado, Nashville and St. Louis, Kariya has 402 goals and 587 assists.

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